Use Of Different Coping Strategies Research Articles

Exploring the nature of control and its role in the appraisal of workplace stress

The concept of control is a prominent component of theories of stress. From a transactional framework, appraisal of control is seen as important in influencing coping behaviour. However, little attention has been paid to the measurement of the appraisal of control in a work-related situation. In this paper it is argued that situational control should not be reduced to a simple assessment of whether or not an individual has control over a given situation. Instead it is believed that it is important to identify the factors that an individual strives to have control of, as well as the perceived degree of control over those factors. A major component of the present study was the use of a measure that viewed control in this way and that examined control as a multifaceted construct (task control, predictability, self-control and general control). This paper reports on an analysis that examines the multifaceted nature of perceived control with other situational appraisals in the process of coping with workplace stress. A total of 134 employees from four public sector organizations in New Zealand took part in this research. Having control over work tasks was for this sample considered to be less important in giving a sense of control than either predictability or self-control. When it came to reporting how much control they actually had, respondents reported higher levels of self-control than other aspects of control. However, in general respondents reported lower levels of actual control than what they perceived it was important for them to have. This research emphasizes the importance of having a sense of self-control, particularly when it comes to the use of different coping strategies. Overall these findings point to the need to better understand the nature and type of control and its importance if we are to advance our knowledge of work stress.

Coping as a Mediating Factor Between Self-Efficacy and Disability in Whiplash Associated Disorders (WAD)

Study Design. The design of the study was prospective and correlational.Objectives.The aim was to investigate a mediating function of coping between self-efficacy and disability as well as changes in this model over a one-year period in patients with Whiplash Associated Disorders (WAD). Summary of Background Data.The central part of the pain problems is patients' beliefs about pain as well as coping with conditions related to pain. Methods.Fifty-nine patients with WAD, 35 females and 24 males visiting the orthopaedic clinic took part in the study. Patients were studied pro-spectively on three occasions, at inclusion, at six- and 12-month follow-ups. Three measures were used in the study, the Self-Efficacy Scale, the Coping Strategies Questionnaire and the Pain Disability Index. Path analyses were used to analyse the data and test models for the mediating function of coping. Results.The results of the path analyses supported the mediating role of coping between self-efficacy and disability. The direct effect of self-efficacy decreased from 97%, 93% to 67% of the total effect on disability over time. The indirect effect of coping on disability increased from 3%, 7% to 33% during the first year after the accident. Conclusions.It was concluded that the lack of belief in one's own ability, i.e., self-efficacy may predict the use of different coping strategies which in turn may predict the extent to which individuals with WAD become disabled.

Coping in Dieting and Eating Disorders

The use of different coping strategies, measured by the Ways of Coping Questionnaire was investigated among 1157 women (18 to 30 years), randomly selected from the general population of Sweden as part of a longitudinal study. Subjects were clustered into five groups: subjects with past or current eating disorders (ED), and subjects with no ED but with past, current, or no history of dieting. Subjects with past or current ED reported significantly higher levels of escape avoidance and lower levels of seeking social support and purposeful problem solving compared with subjects with neither ED nor dieting. These group comparisons were then reanalyzed with sum of depressive symptoms as a covariate in covariate analyses. The only significant difference between the groups concerned the use of escape avoidance. The significant differences in the use of escape-avoidance strategies may motivate more extensive training in coping in the context of prevention and treatment of ED and maladaptive dieting.

Emotional, marital and sexual functioning in patients embarking upon IVF and AID treatment for infertility

Fifty-nine women attending infertility clinics for IVF and AID treatment were interviewed and asked to complete questionnaires assessing anxiety, depression, marital functioning, sexual satisfaction and strategies for coping with infertility. Thirty-four of their partners also completed questionnaires. Both women and men experienced high levels of anxiety, but not depression. Assessment of current marital and sexual functioning did not reveal significant levels of problems. Women and men were divided into high and low distress groups and compared with respect to their use of different coping strategies. Those patients who were anxious and/or depressed were more likely to engage in avoidance-coping strategies than those who did not have emotional problems. No such relationship was found for avoidance coping and either marital or sexual functioning.